Federation of Metal Detector and Archaeological Clubs
                                   Inc. (FMDAC)

FMDAC Website

FMDAC Facebook Page


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The Federation of Metal Detector and Archaeological Clubs Inc. (FMDAC) was organized in 1984 as a legislative and educational organization and incorporated, as a non-profit, non-commercial, non-partisan organization.

The FMDAC's Mission: The FMDAC is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and protection for the hobby of recreational metal detecting and prospecting.

The FMDAC's Purpose:
To unite, promote and encourage the establishment of metal detecting clubs.
To preserve the sport / hobby of recreational metal detecting and prospecting.
To make available to FMDAC clubs and Independent members information pertaining to the hobby and to keep members informed as to active legislation.

The FMDAC's Goal is to Educate and inform the public as to the merits of recreational metal detecting.

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October 31, 2018 FMDAC Information and Request NEW
Mark Schuessler, FMDAC President

Last month I mentioned a developing situation. Well here are the basics.
The Alabama Historical Commission wants to have a mile section of the Alabama River in Selma listed on the National Historic Register. This is a serious situation. According to Alabama law if it becomes eligible (does not even have to be listed) then it is a “cultural resource” and is protected. This is section of water. One that is deep and swift and has been used as a trash dump for a very long time. It has also been dammed. In addition there were no historical events there. In the river that is. There are no shipwrecks and the visibility is about 3 ft according to divers. The items are not in any form of context and at any given point in time may not even be from that spot on the river due to currents and flooding.

There were two committee meetings open to the public. No one was speaking in favor from the public. All attending were opposed and in spite of their best efforts the committee voted unanimously to recommend it for listing.

A survey was conducted. Over the course of several days there were many dives looking for “cultural resource” material. The only items found that were not modern trash were 2 bullets, one confederate and one union. For this the state paid $15,000. The federal government may very well have kicked in more. That is the extent of their findings. They are basing a potential listing on the register on two bullets! Most of the structures are already listed. They want the water too!

The deal was done before the first meeting was brought to order. Listening to a recording of the second meeting was an exercise in holding my temper. There was no changing minds there. The vote was just a formality.

So what would this do? Well the implications are far reaching. If this were to be deemed eligible by the Keeper of the Registry then any waterway anywhere in the nation could be deemed eligible. It could cause a rewriting of the criteria. At this point a river is not eligible. It must be a structure or district or something such as a battlefield or Indian Mound. A site that is intact. Now a shipwreck would be eligible and therefore the river bottom immediately under it but the entire river bottom is not eligible. A specific site would be if it is still intact and could provide something to the archaeological or historical record. But there is nothing in this stretch of river. If there was at one time then nothing remains. Therefore it should not be eligible.

This is test case to see if they can get it through. We must all oppose this nomination. How do you do that? Write a letter to the National Registry. Do this now or you may regret it for the rest of your life. Tell the Keeper of the Register that you oppose this listing as it does not qualify under the guidelines. If this is listed then any water anywhere in the country could be listed. Shutting off public access to large swaths of the country for recreational and hobby purpose and costing untold billions of dollars in lost revenues. This is not the intent of the registry.

Now obviously this would also eliminate any type of metal detecting, prospecting and any of the collecting related hobbies.

Take a stand. Write the letter. An email will not work. It needs to be a letter that someone must open and read. Tell them you oppose the new proposed listing of a section of the Alabama River known as the Selma Waterfront District.

I will post Information from Steve Phillips on the website and facebook page. Steve is a well known diver, relic hunter and collector who has been fighting this. He is also the guy who was falsely arrested in 2003 for retrieving a seriously deteriorated rifle from the river. He fought it and won. Causing some laws to be changed and some higher ups to be fired.

Here is the address;
National Register of Historic Places
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW,MS 7228
Washington, DC 20240

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Metal Detecting Hobby Talk's Response NEW

See the FMDAC message about the Selma, Alabama Historical Nomination to the National Register and the issue with the nomination is that a mile stretch of the Alabama River in the nomination. There is no archaeological evidence that this stretch of river should be in their nomination to National Register as defined by the Nation Registers Qualification Criteria.

I have written a response to this issue and it is posted on my website http://www.mdhtalk.org and it can be downloaded the response is in MS Word .doc and .PDF Formats. All you need to-do if you want to response is download a version, print, sign and USPS to the address on the letter.

Download Forms URL:
PDF Version: http://www.mdhtalk.org/forms/Selma-Alabama/National-Register.pdf
MS Word .doc: http://www.mdhtalk.org/forms/Selma-Alabama/National-Register.doc

Give it some thought.

Also below are links to the Nomination web page and an audio link to the second public meeting on this nomination

Selma Civil War sites and Pettus Bridge nominated for National Historic Register
https://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2018/10/selma_civil_war_sites_and_pett.html

Fight in AL - Meeting Recordedhttps://www.spreaker.com/user/admrr/fight-in-al-meeting-recorded

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April 17, 2018 Press Release
Hello to all members and non members. Please read the announcement below direct from the FMDAC President, Mark Schuessler

Target Recovery Certification Program
The Federation of Metal Detector and Archaeological Clubs will be conducting its first target recovery course at Treasure Week at Fox Den Acres Campground, July 14 - 21, 2018. This will be our kickoff for the program that we intend to take nationwide. This is an effort to teach proper recovery techniques and stem the tide of sloppy habits that we are seeing becoming prevalent in many areas including the internet. It will take place on the first weekend at a specific times to be announced on Saturday morning.

This course will be conducted in Four parts. The

Part One: is a sit down "classroom" talk. Proper ethics will be discussed along with a discussion of target recovery tools and accessories.

Part Two: will be demonstrations of different recovery techniques that will be shown as many times as necessary.

Part Three: will be practice time. Participants will practice the techniques with any needed assistance from instructors. When they feel confident of the techniques then the final phase will be the test. They will have to demonstrate each of the techniques to the satisfaction of the instructor with no prompting or assistance. After successful completion each person will be given a certification card.

This is a "hands on" course. The reason is quite simple. There are handouts showing proper techniques which we have been distributing for years. Manufacturers talk about it in their instruction manuals. There are places on the internet that you can watch target recovery videos. You can even get a certificate after watching them. These are all good as it does show proper techniques. However they in no way insure that the person can actually do it properly. It only shows that the person can read or click a mouse! Although this course does not insure that any particular individual will use the techniques and do them properly, it DOES show that they have demonstrated that they can do them properly. We will be placing videos on the internet in the near future but they will not take the place of the course.

This certification card can be used when asking permissions. It can also be incorporated into permit systems or used to help reverse or stop detecting bans from happening. The course will be a work in progress. We will make changes as necessary to streamline and improve it. It will also be a two way discussion. There are many, many people who are great at recovering targets and can add to the discussions and may have some things to add to our course. There are many who may be able to go straight from the demo stage to the test phase with no problem at all.

The course is not meant or intended in any fashion to point fingers and no one should be apprehensive about taking part. It is 100% intended to be educational. We also realize that the techniques may need to be modified for different areas of the country according to the ground conditions. This will take place as necessary.

If you will be at Treasure Week on the first weekend then consider sitting in on the course.             The hobby you help save will be your own!

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November 24, 2017 Press Release

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April 28, 2017 FMDAC News Release

Attention everyone......March 15, 2017
Just found out about this bill in the NH legislature. It has already passed the House and is in the Senate. It apparently passed the house by a voice vote. The full text of the bill is below. Really simple as it says dredging is banned. I know this is not metal detecting proper but we are all in this together. Many people are involved in both hobbies. So lets act quickly to try to put the brakes on this one.

Also there are 2 cities that have recently banned detecting. We are working with them on a local level right now.
Here s a link to the NH senate committee where the bill is at right now. Web link
Here is the senate contact page. Web Link
New Hampshire House Bill 591  Sponsors: Web Link
If you live in NH then please contact your senator. If you do not then please contact the committee and any senators and let them know about your vacation plans.
Mark Schuessler, FMDAC National President

August 14, 2016 FMDAC Press Release
SAA Task Force on Professional Archaeologists, Avocational Archaeologists, & Artifact Collectors Web Link
September 07, 2015 FMDAC Presidents Message Read Here
March 05, 2015 FMDAC Presidents Message 1st Qtr Select Here
November 13, 2014 FMDAC Presidents Message Fall 2014 Select Here
May 09, 2014 - Presidents Report on Facebook or View This PDF File
May 09, 2014 - FMDAC's Response to the Massachusetts Metal Detecting Issue Fackbook or View This PDF File
December 27, 2013 - Presidents Report on Facebook
August 24, 2013 - 2013 2nd Qtr President's Report

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     MDAW - Metal Detecting Association of Washington


MDAW Website

MDAW FaceBook

The Metal Detecting Association of Washington was started to promote, protect and preserve recreational metal detecting here, in the State of Washington. Some of the concerns related to detecting in this state are unique to the Pacific Northwest. As a group we strive to work with hobbyists, in clubs or not, who want to enjoy metal detecting, follow the rules set down about the hobby and in some cases help to change those rules. The MDAW works in cooperation with the Office of Historical and Archaeological Preservation of Washington State and Washington State Parks.

The MDAW is an active organization of metal detecting clubs and individuals throughout Washington State working to promote recreational metal detecting for the public.

A project being worked on at this time is trying to get state parks to open more areas within the designated state recreational lands to recreational metal detecting.

Having completed an educational workshop with staff from the archaeological preservation office of Washington State. We have what we feel is a good working relationship and are working to keep it that way.

On the following pages you will find many parks and other areas that may be open to metal detecting.  Always make sure that an area is ok to detect.

Please read these links to the latest WA State Park rules.

Metal Detecting Maps Be sure you check maps and complete a metal detecting brochure.

County and city rules may vary. Please check with the individual parks departments.

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  Texas Association of Metal Detecting Clubs



The purpose of the TAMDC shall be to unite, promote, and encourage metal detecting clubs in Texas, through education and instruction in the recovery and preservation of historical facts, relics, and artifacts. It is the intent and charter of this association to develop and maintain a positive image for metal detectorists and their activities at local, state, and national levels through performance of selected community service projects and through adherence to the TAMDC code of ethics.


T.A.M.D.C. Website

T.A.M.D.C. FaceBook Page

The Historical Hearne-Gidden Home Coming Back to Life
From Houston to Ft. Worth, from Dallas to Austin, and all towns in between, twenty metal detectorists from the Texas Association of Metal Detecting Clubs (T.A.M.D.C.) converged on Kosse, TX on December 16th in partnership with the Kosse Heritage Society for a T.A.M.D.C. “GIVES BACK” Community Service Project. The purpose of the event was to help raise awareness and funds for Kosse Heritage Society’s, Hearne-Gidden Restoration Project, by recovering historical artifacts from the ground around the historical home. Read More

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World Wide Association of Treasure
                     Seekers

(WWATS Website) - Keith Wills

04-25-15 The "State" of Our Hobby
By: Keith Wills
The excitement and adventure of treasure hunting for gold nuggets, old lost coins, lost jewelry, and items from our past is in everyone's blood, for we all seek what we do not have. For me, I started metal detecting as a kid to build my first coin collection, it was much more intriguing to search for lost treasures beneath my feet than simply buy a coin collection, which I could not afford at the time.

For over 43 years now my father and I have enjoyed metal detecting together with great success. I will always have our memories we shared of putting on those headphones and the rest of the world disappearing for us. The sweet competition we shared in seeing at the end of the day which of us had found the nicest piece of jewelry or the most coins. We always look forward to that next treasure hunt adventure. However, as time goes on, many outside forces interrupt our long time-shared fun together, even when we fight to hold on to the right to continue to enjoy it.

Today the average metal detector user finds him or her surrounded by new laws enforced to restrict our freedom to enjoy a recreational pastime. However, it may not be too far in the future we see even our own property and our right to do with that property as we wish, taken from us as well. Everyday new laws are going into effect; new Bills are being pasted by our elected officials that most of us are unaware of. To be honest with you, our government has lost the direction of "for the people" yet now enact more laws "against the people". Special interest groups and our government are pushing Bills to restrict American rights; even in our hobbies we enjoy every day. Read More 

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